Patterns of Young Adults’ Perceptions and Usage of Mobile Phone: The Case of University Students in Nigeria

Abstract

This exploratory study draws on focus group discussions with semi-structured questionnaire development and convenience sample procedure to examine the uniqueness of mobile phone to the university students in two study locations:Benson Idahosa University, Benin City and Delta State University, Abraka in Nigeria, with the social construction of technology (SCOT) as a theoretical set up. Data derived from the participants' opinions on the respective questions through verbal discourse were coded by hand and analyzed through constant comparison method to arrive at consensual and nonconsensual opinions of participants. The findings revealed the influence of parents and disposable income in the respondents' capacity to owe mobile phone usage and several patterns and functionalities to students was captured relative to determinant majority opinions. These findings provide insights for researchers and educators to understand the benefits of mobile phone in Nigeria and the advancement of mobile phone research in Nigeria.